Disconnect switch

ABSTRACT

A disconnect switch has a stationary switching portion and a movable switching portion movable between open and closed positions. The movable switching portion has a rigid first member and a second member joined to the first member at a first pivot. The second member has two rigid parts mutually joined at a second pivot. These pivots permit the members of the movable switching portion to be foldable to one side of the stationary switching portion when the movable switching portion is in the open position. The members have respective contact jaws for grasping the stationary switching part when the movable switching portion is in the closed position. The contact jaws have a length approximately half the length of the members and the second pivot divides the two parts of the second member in a length ratio in the range of 1 : 3 to 1 : 6.

I United States Patent [191 [111 3,784,767 ()ltersdorf Jan. 8, 1974 DISCONNECT SWITCH Primary Examiner-Herman J. Hohauser [75] lnventor: Winfried Oltersdorf, Berlin, Atwmey Arthur wllfond at Germany [73] Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Berlin [57] ABSTRACT giegmagy A disconnect switch has a stationary switching portion [22] Filed. Dec 29 1972 and a movable switching portion movable between I open and closed positions. The movable switching pp 319,785 portion has a rigid first member and a second member Re'ated Application Data joined to the first member at a first pivot. The second [63] Continuation of Ser No H7 928 Feb 24 1971 member has two rigid parts mutually joined at a secabandoned 0nd pivot. These pivots permit the members of the movable switching portion to be foldable to one side of the stationary switching portion when the movable [30] Foregn Application Prwmy Data switching portion is in the open position. The mem- W I MQE2Q 79 Ew y 11-92 .lZQ-fi bers have respective contact jaws for grasping the stationary switching part when the movable switching [52] US. Cl 200/48 V portion is in the closed position The Contact jaws [51] 31/34 have a length approximately half the length of the Fleld of Search V, R members and the Second pivot divides the two parts of [56] R C t' d the second member in a length ratio in the range of l e erences le z 3 to l I 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,781,426 2 1957 Lardelli 200/48 v 4 Clams 1 Drawmg 2,748,2l2 5/1956 Butz 2,788,403 4/1957 Harault 200/48 V DISCONNECT SWITCH This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 117,928, filed Feb. 24, 1971, now abandoned.

My invention relates to a disconnect switch having a movable switching portion which is foldable to one side of the stationary portion of the switch. The movable switching portion holds the stationary portion with contact jaws in the closed position.

From U.S. Pat. No. 2,788,403, a single pillar disconnect switch is known wherein the movable switching portion is foldable to one side of the stationary portion and which has as its free end a pair of contact jaws. In the closed position of the switch, the contact jaws grasp the stationary part of the switch, the latter part being, for example, a cylindrical member hanging on a high voltage line. The known switch which requires less space for the movable switch portion for the switch opening and the switch closing movements than the conventional, symmetrically constructed single pillar disconnect switch requires a relatively high expense for individual parts and linkage locations and so on.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a disconnect switch having a switching member foldable to one side which is considerably more economical and simpler to produce than heretofore. Subsidiary to this object, it is an object of my invention to provide such a switch of the single pillar type.

According to a feature of the invention, the movable switching portion consists of three rigid parts which are pivotally connected with each other and from which two switching arms or members are configured: a first member comprising one rigid part, and a second member pivotally connected at a first pivot to the first member, the second member being comprised of the two other rigid parts mutually connected at a second pivot; wherewith the length of the contact jaws is made to be approximately equal to half the length of the switching members and the pivot of the two-part switching member is divided by the second pivot in a length ratio of from I 3 to l 6. In this way, savings are made with respect to switches of the type referred to above in that individual parts are saved and fewer pivots are required while at the same time the operational effectiveness or reliability of the switch is increased. The relatively large length of the contact jaws guarantees that the stationary switch portion will be grasped firmly.

In addition, with the disconnect switch according to the invention, it is necessary to actuate only one of the contact arms. Preferably, the two-part switching arm is actuated via a crank. For this purpose, an elongated electrically insulated member can drive the crank by means ofa movement along its longitudinal axis. In addition, it is expeditious when the free ends of the contact jaws are bent over in a direction so as to face the pivot which joins the two switching members together. In this way the stationary switching portion is prevented from sliding away from the grasp of the contact jaws.

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the disconnect switch according to the inventron.

Illustrated in the drawing is schematic representation of a single pillar disconnect switch for use with 110 or more kilovolts. Only the upper portion of the support insulator with the mechanism housing 2 is illustrated. Two members 3 and 4 are pivotally connected in the housing. The two members are joined together at pivot 5. The member 4 together with its contact jaw 6 is a rigid member. In contrast, the member 3 consists of two parts 7 and 8 which are joined together at pivot 9. The contact jaw corresponding to member 3 is designated by reference numeral 10. The stationary switching portion 11 is a cylinder which is disposed perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. Switching portion 11 lies so as to be transverse to the movement of the movable switching members in the plane of the drawing and is not illustrated with respect to its connection to a high voltage line.

The open position of the disconnect switch is illustrated by the dashed lines designated by reference numerals 3' and 4. The substantially horizontal position of the switching arms shows that in the open position of the disconnect switch, the switching arms both lie to one side of the mechanism housing 2. When it is desired to close the disconnect switch, the crank 12 connected with the two part switching arm 3 is swung in a clockwise direction by a longitudinal movement of the drive insulator 13. With this movement the switching arms 3 and 4 and the pivot 9 move through the distances indicated by dashed lines 17, 18 and 19, respectively. These movement curves show that the contact jaws 6 and 10 surround the stationary switching member 11 with a wide sweeping clamping movement so that a certain and sure gripping action of the stationary switching member 11 is guaranteed even when there are deviations of positions such as can, for example, be introduced by the force of a blowing wind. The movement of the pivoted arms to the position indicated by.

the angle of corresponds to the position whereat H practically no further movement of the niovab le switching portion takes place in the vertical direction so that no forces are applied to the stationary switching member 11 in this direction. The end position of the switching arms is designated by the angle 98. In this position, angle ends 15 and 16 of the contactjaws 6 and 10 form a reliable connection for the stationary portion 11.

The disconnect switch of the invention requires only three rigid parts 4, 7 and 8 and the two pivots 5 and 9 for the movable switching portion of the disconnect switch. For this reason, the disconnect switch can be manufactured at low cost. The advantageous large gripping motion and the small movements in the vertical direction toward the end of the closing action of the switch and at the beginning of the opening action is exclusively obtained through the dimensioning of the two-part switching arm with reference to the dimension of the other switching arm. In the illustrated embodiment, the relationship of the switching arm portions 7 and 8 to each other is l 4. This is the most efficacious value. The switching arms can, however, be proportioned in a length ratio in the range of 1:3 to 1:6. The contact jaws are somewhat less than half the length of the switching arms 3 and 4; their length, however, can be between one-third and somewhat more than onehalf.

The movable switching portion of the disconnect switch according to the invention is in its simplest construction also then advantageous if the other switching portion of the disconnect switch is braced against the earth by means of a support insulator so that the switching movement takes place in a substantially horizontal direction. In contrast to the situation where the movable switching portion is configured as a symmetrical scissor, the isolation distance to earth has approximately the same value at all points of the switching movement.

While the invention has been described by means of 5 a specific example and in a specific embodiment, I do not wish to be limited thereto, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art according to the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Disconnect switch comprising a stationary switching portion, and a movable switching portion movable between open and closed positions, said movable switching portion comprising a rigid first member and a second member joined to said first member at a first pivot, said second member consisting two rigid parts mutually flexibly joined at a second pivot, said pivots permitting said members of said movable switching portion to be foldable to one side of said stationary switching portion in said open position, said members having respective contactjaws for grasping said stationary part when said movable switching portion is in said closed position, said contact jaws having a length approximately half the length of said members, said second pivot dividing said two parts of said second member in a length ratio in the range of 1:3 to 1:6.

2. In a disconnect switch according to claim 1, said contact jaws comprising respective extensions terminating at said first pivot, said contact jaws having respective free end portions configured so as to bend toward each other and face said first pivot.

3. A disconnect switch according to claim 1, comprising crank means connected to said second number for actuating said movable switch portion.

4. In a disconnect switch according to claim 3, said crank means comprising a crank, and an actuation rod made of electrical isolating material, said rod being connected to said crank so as to actuate the latter with a movement directed substantially along the longitudinal axis of said rod. 

1. Disconnect switch comprising a stationary switching portion, and a movable switching portion movable between open and closed positions, said movable switching portion comprising a rigid first member and a second member joined to said first member at a first pivot, said second member consisting two rigid parts mutually flexibly joined at a second pivot, said pivots permitting said members of said movable switching portion to be foldable to one side of said stationary switching portion in said open position, said members having respective contact jaws for grasping said stationary part when said movable switching portion is in said closed position, said contact jaws having a length approximately half the length of said members, said second pivot dividing said two parts of said second member in a length ratio in the range of 1:3 to 1:6.
 2. In a disconnect switch according to claim 1, said contact jaws comprising respective extensions terminating at said first pivot, said contact jaws having respective free end portions configured so as to bend toward each other and face said first pivot.
 3. A disconnect switch according to claim 1, comprising crank means connected to said second number for actuating said movable switch portion.
 4. In a disconnect switch according to claim 3, said crank means comprising a crank, and an actuation rod made of electrical isolating material, said rod being connected to said crank so as to actuate the latter with a movement directed substantially along the longitudinal axis of said rod. 